Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-29
AN INDIAN FEAST.
The Green Corn Stamp Dance at
Tulsa, Indian Ter.
An Interesting Ceremony Observed ON
Sacred Ground.

| The annual festivities of the Creek In
dlans, known as the green corn stamp
dance" have just closed at this place, and
all hands are now at Tulsa, Indian Terri
! tory.
This festival is a religious rite, and is
far from being what is generally suppos-
| ed, an ordinary dance.
! 1t usually continues for four DAYS, and
| the ground on which it is held is conse-
Grated to the service for which it is used
| by being cleared of all distractions, and
laid off into different rings, or places for
the dancers. A post is planted in the
| center of one of these rings and fire is
klndled near the post and the company,
| composed of men, women and children,
dance to the music of peculiar kind of
drum, which is accom- panied by the sing
ing and shouting of the dancers.
The first day is occupied ia feasting
and the night is taken up with dance.
The second day is used as a fast, in which
they take no food, and the night is spent
without sleep, the dance continuing all
night. On the third day, about noon,
they partake of what Is known as the
"bitter medicine" composed of some
wild herb, known only to certain MEM
bers of the tribe, who attends to the pre-
paration with religious zeal and great
solemnity. The effect of this bitter
medicine is very powerful In the way Ct
stirring up the inward organization of
the person taking it, producing violent
vomiting, and is intended as a cleansing
power. La case the medicine does not
act sufficiently. a long feather, usually
from the wing of an eagle or other large
bird having feathers of proper lenght,
Is taken and the feather edge trimmed
off, except small Lunch of the point.
This the person that has not been
sufficiently cleansed inserts into his
mouth and down into the stomach
giving it peculiar tickling twist,
and by repeating this operation
and laying himself over log
face downward, he finally is relieved of
the contents of the stomach, and arising
he pronOunces himself internally cleans
ed. After thoroughly satisfying them
selves that there is nothing left in them,
the whole number of those who have
taken this cleansing process repair to the
river, where they all stand in the water,
and at a given signal from the leader
they dive under four times, and thus
they claim that the outside is cleansed
also.
Then they dry themselves in the sun,
and each one securing an arm-load of
wood, returns to the dancing ground
and rebuilding the FIRE with the wood
they have brought, and sweeping the
ground perfectly clean, they renew the
dance until the fourth day, when they
break up and return to their homes.
These grounds are selected and estab.
lished with great care by the elder mem
bers of the tribe, ore of whom is leader,
and who holds his Office during life, and
at his death the Office descends to some
other one, also a member of the same
family, thus Initiating the perpetual
priesthood of the Jewish people.
The grounds of this pla;e were estab-
lished about forty years ago, and the ash
es which make the place sacred were
brought from a similar dancing ground
in the state of Alabama at the time, and
are buried here, where new fire is built
every year, and the fire is carried to their
homes and kept burning all the entire
year. Thus the same fire that burns
upon the main altar is to be kept burn
ing in the home of each individual, and
is intended to remind them constantly of
the sacred obligation that they are under
this respect.
During these festivities the most per
feet order prevails IN the camp, and any
thing of contrary nature is promptly
checked and the offender reminded that
the ground whereon they stand is holy
ground.
The dance is very peculiar, and in many
respects is less Objectionable in its fea
lures than our modern dances. Each in
6ivi5uaJ operates indapendent of aOv one
else. There is Eo choosing partners and
no firtatian between the sexes, and any
thing of that kind would be considered a
gross insult, and would meet with strong
resentment, if not very prompt punish
ment. The costumes of many, especially
the women, are very gaudy, and are COM
posed largely of fancy ribbons and feath-
ers One was very conspicuous in this
respect, having beautiful head dress of
ribbons reaching from head to foot
and representing the colors of the rain
| l. ",
| II. sse people are not barbarian, as
might be supposed, but they wear the
| civilized dress, and they only add these
! fancy ornaments as others ornament
| themselves.
| The Creeks extend friendly invita-
| ton to the other tribes to join them in
this festival, and many of their neigh
bors avail themselves of the hospitality
| thus offered.
| The Shawnees living within reach al
ways attend, and it is thought that they
excel in the matter of dancing, many OF
their women being peculiarly graceful
! in thei- movements.
| Story of the Elder Bennett.